Watkins' Family Chronicles

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

One of the things I found so wonderful about Kaleb's adoption is that I actually was able to follow it via this blog. I am going to try to continue the tradition with our latest daughter-to-be, Chloe Grace, from Huanian, Anhui in China.

Sunday, July 6, 2008

We spent the 4th at my inlaws on Lake Sinclair. We arrived the night before, and Tim decided to light some fireworks over the lake. Rex and Daisy were with us and both were surprisingly good. They did not chase or attack any fireworks. However, at the end of the display, Tim and the kids heard a strange noise in the water. (I was inside at this point.) Tim asked, "Where's Rex?" and sure enough he had fallen into the lake. Being the hero that he is, he jumped into the lake to save the sinking dog (Rex swims like an anchor.) and completely forgot to take his cell phone, wallet and keys out of his pocket. However, amazingly, after drying it out, his cell phone now works.

Rex, the sinking dog who loves the lake

The next day, my brother and sister-in-law joined us and we spent the day visiting, swimming in the lake, going for pontoon boat rides, and, of course, eating. We came home early and spent the evening at a neighborhood party, again eating, watching a Bouche Ball tournament, and watching fire works. We had a great day! Unfortunately, I did not have my camera....

One of my biggest fears concerning preparing for Kaleb to come was repainting Hannah's hot pink room. We moved Hannah into our guest room/my office a couple of weeks ago, and I finally faced my fears and took her wallpaper down and repainted her room last week. Honestly, it wasn't that bad. A good coat of tinted primer and a thick coat of paint, and we are ready to go! Below are before and after pictures.

Saturday, June 28, 2008

When our agency originally called with our court information, they told us that we would have our travel dates by Wednesday at the latest. No worries....They told me that it would be approximately 4 - 6 weeks after our court date, but to be prepared for closer to 6 weeks because of how busy things were. I whipped out my calendar. Okay, 4 weeks from June 23 would be July 21; 6 weeks would be August 4...so we probably wouldn't travel until August 4. That's plenty of time to move Hannah into the bigger room, get the baby's room ready (I need to show you the hot pink walls I have to paint over.), have a baby shower, and shop for all of the essentials....

When Wednesday came and we hadn't heard anything, my worrying rador kicked in. What if there is an issue with our paperwork and they couldn't schedule us an embassy date? What if the guest house is full and they are having difficulty finding us a place to stay? What if....

Thankfully, up until that time I was still in Chicago. However, by the time my colleague and I arrived at the airport, I had "what if'ed" myself into calling the agency...I only got the voice mail of the director. I resigned myself not to leave a message, but to just wait for a while longer....So, we had lunch at the airport and then I called again. When I reached her voice mail again, I left a message telling her that I was worried that something was wrong because I hadn't heard from them. I also told her that if there was an issue scheduling the guest house, that we could stay at the Hilton. (I have no problem staying in nice hotels. :o)) Then, to make sure no stone was unturned, I called the assistant director too. "Please tell the director to call or email me just to let me know what's going on," I said.

My flight landed in Atlanta at 7:05, early! Hurray! I quickly turned on my cell phone...but no messages were waiting. By the time I retrieved my bag from baggage claim, I had called the agency once, okay maybe 3 - 4 times, but I only received their voice mail. Hmmm...I'd try another tactic. Hannah was home; I called her to check our emails. Perhaps they had sent us the travel information. However, nothing was there. By that time, I had resigned myself that we would not hear about travel dates until Thurs.

My ride home was relatively uneventful. I say relatively because I was pulled over and given a speeding ticket for the first time in my life....I guess my brain was elsewhere.

My in-laws were at the house when I arrived; they had been helping Tim watch the kids when I was away. I hugged and kissed Hannah and Zach and sat down with them for a bit to catch up....Tim came home....I went up to do a final check of emails (routine)....and I saw it! Finally! Our travel dates!!!!

However, it was not 6 weeks away; it was not even 4 weeks away; it was 2 1/2 weeks away!!! Yes, 2 1/2!!!! It stated that we had to be in Ethiopia on July 14 or 15 and could leave no sooner than the evening of the 21st. Our embassy date would be the 17th.

We were thrilled! Surprised! Shocked! And scared! How were we going to get everything prepared for our little man and get us prepared for travel in 2 1/2 weeks???

Tim and I didn't sleep that night. I know I had "to do" lists running through my head....After having a couple of days to let it sink in though, I am calmer. We'll get what we can get done, and what we can't get done, we'll do after we return. The important part is that we'll have our son home and he will have precious time with Tim and the kids before they have to go back to school. That is truly a gift!

Where you wondering where I was this week? On Monday, the day of our court date, I had to fly to Chicago to do a training for Chicago Public Schools. Since our agency is on Pacific time, I knew I wouldn't hear the results of our court date until early afternoon at the latest.

The morning was bearable. I worked; I packed; I left half of my wardrobe at home,(Yes, my head wasn't completely there.)and then I drove to the airport around noon...and anxiety set in. Sitting in the car for an hour with nothing to do but think about what transpired half a world away was excruciating. To keep myself from calling the agency, (I didn't want to interrupt the possible phone call they would be having with the lawyer in Ethiopia.) I called all of the ladies who worked for me to "check in" before my flight. Then, I called my sister. Having 3 telephone conversations and leaving 3 voice mails left me with 5 minutes to get to the airport. The time was a little after 1:00 and I had to physically move the phone from my reach in order for me not to call the agency. (I made a pact with myself that I wouldn't call until 2:00.)

Check-in and security moved relatively quickly at the airport (the one instance when I was trying to prolong my time). I was thankful that I had a long train ride to the D terminal before I had to sit...and wait...and think....My phone rang. I jumped to answer; it was Tim. "Did you hear anything?" I asked. (I had left the agency Tim's number to call too.) "No, did you?" he replied. "No," I responded. That was the gist and the extent of our phone call.

I was thankful when one of my colleagues that I left a message for called. We caught up on work related events for awhile...and then my cell phone rang again. Time stopped; it was Dove!

"Hello," I answered. "How did it go?"

"Do you feel like a parent?" Kari, our assistant adoption director asked. "Do you feel like a parent?"

"Yes, I always feel like a parent," I responded. (I have been a parent for almost 11 years now, but I don't think she remembered that.)

"Do you feel like a parent?" she repeated.

"YES," I practically screamed into the receiver.

"Well, you are officially a new parent today!" she answered.

I honestly can't remember the exact words I said back - probably "Thank goodness!" or "I'm so excited!" I do remember telling her that I was so thankful that everything went well. However, I was thankful for a lot more than that. I was thankful to Kumsa's mother for loving him so much to bring him to the orphanage to live; thankful to the people at the Toukoul orphanage for matching us with a beautiful, healthy child; thankful that G-d was watching over us and all was progressing smoothly....I was just thankful.

Of course, I immediately shared the news with Tim. He was actually speechless when I called. Later, he would tell me that Zach was so happy and astounded he cried all the way home from his baseball practice.

Sunday, June 22, 2008

Tomorrow is our court date. It feels like we have been waiting forever for tomorrow to come, but in reality it has been only a little over two weeks since we were notified of the date. Although waiting to receive a referral is difficult, waiting to hear about the health of the child and waiting to see if the court approves the adoption is even more difficult. Knowing who he is, I just want to get him home.

We should receive the call from our agency tomorrow afternoon regardless of the direction the court rules. Hopefully, I won't be on a plane to Chicago when that call comes. (I have to train some of our customers this week.) If I am, I've given the agency every other possible number to reach Tim or me.

Did I mention that it's currently 7:35 in Ethiopia? Kumesa should be waking up...along with our lawyer. I am hoping for a great Monday!

About Me

Hello,
My husband, Tim, and I will be celebrating our 19th anniversary in April. We have three beautiful children: Hannah (14), Zachary (14), and Kaleb (4). We adopted Kaleb when he was 10 months old from Ethiopia, and now we are in the midst of adopting a beautiful 5 year old girl, Chloe Grace, from China.